How To Be Sure That
"It's A Wonderful Life"

A Sermon By Jim Hammond from John 10:7-18

Frank Capra, who directed “It's a Wonderful Life”, was asked years ago about the central message of his classic film. After thinking a few moments, Capra responded, "I believe the real message of “It's a Wonderful Life” is this: that under the sun, nothing is insignificant to God."

Jimmy Stewart reflected,

The character I played was George Bailey, an ordinary kind of fella who thinks he's never accomplished anything in life. His dreams of becoming a famous architect, of traveling the world and living adventurously, have not been fulfilled.

Instead he feels trapped in a humdrum job in a small town. And when faced with a crisis in which he feels he has failed everyone, he breaks under the strain and flees to the bridge.

That's when his guardian angel, Clarence, comes down on Christmas Eve to show him what his community would be like without him. The angel takes him back through his life to show how our ordinary everyday efforts are really big achievements. Clarence reveals how George Bailey's loyalty to his job at the building-and-loan office has saved families and homes, how his little kindnesses have changed the lives of others, and how the ripples of his love will spread through the world, helping make it a better place.

. . . Today, after some 50 years, I've heard the film called "an American cultural phenomenon." Well, maybe so, but it seems to me there is nothing phenomenal about the movie itself. It's simply about an ordinary man who discovers that living each ordinary day honorably, with faith in God and a selfless concern for others, can make for a truly wonderful life. [i]

Now, when you watch the movie again, you know that everything that happens has intended and unintended consequences. Everything, because it happened, causes something else to happen. Everybody in that story is important, because he or she relates to everyone else. Nothing under the sun is insignificant to God. The movie is a wonderful reminder not only that you are important to God, but also everyone around you is significant to him, too.[ii]

But here is my question. If it is true that every action has an intended and an unintended consequence, a known and an unknown consequence, who’s to say the consequences are wonderful? Are not many consequences not so wonderful? I’d like to be sure that “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I’d like to know that I’m not the only player, or the only agent, piecing all these things together. In the movie George Bailey learns that he is not alone. There is a benevolent angel. There is an outside agent. But the Bible’s Christmas message is even more wonderful than the movie’s Christmas message.

Focus: We can be sure that “It’s A Wonderful Life.” We are not alone, we are not insignificant, we are loved, cared for and guided for wonderful purposes.

I. Why “It’s A Wonderful Life” (v. 10)

A. Because Jesus Came

The movie doesn’t really express why it’s a wonderful life, except that there are unintended consequences to our actions that affect everyone around us. The Bible tells us it is a wonderful life precisely because of Christmas. It is wonderful because a savior was sent to the world and he saves us from the destroyer and gives us a wonderful life. That savior wasn’t “Clarence”, the angel, but Jesus the Savior, the child that was born the savior of the world. Christmas is about when this savior came. John 10:10 is about why he came. It is a Christmas verse explaining in Jesus’ own words why he came.

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This was Jesus’ claim. And He made good on this claim. The Purpose of Christmas, according to Jesus, was so that he could give us a wonderful life.

II. What Is The Wonderful Life

A. Saved Life (v. 9)

⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

The term “saved” is used in Christian circles to mean become a Christian. It means to be saved from hell, delivered from the power of sin, forgiven. It is spiritual and eternal salvation. However if we force ourselves to let this context alone define the word, here is what we discover the word to mean.

Rescued from the Destroyer

It means we are saved from the tyrant thief who comes to destroy God’s flock. God created us to have relationship with Him, but a thief has been stealing his flock, and destroying it.

B. Freed Life (v. 9)

He will come in and go out,

When one is rescued from the destroyer’s grasp, one is released from slavery to freedom. Notice that he will have a freedom to “come in and go out” (v. 9). When you are in the grasp of the destroyer whether you know it yet or not, you are not free. You are not free to please God even when you try. You are not free to find pasture and contentment. The ability to come in and go out includes the ideas of safe protection. The door leads both in and out, it gives the shepherd access to his sheep and it gives his sheep access to the pasture and to the fold. Protected Pastures on the outside, and the protected fold on the inside.

When you are in the grasp of the destroyer, you are not free from sin. Sin has you stuck doing things you don’t even want to do. You aim for pastures of contentment, and sin seems to be the approach to fill voids in your life. You become a stupid sheep eating bark and dirt instead of the green grass in the pastures the good shepherd wants you to eat. We will never be satisfied until we can find the sweet pastures from God. And these sweet pastures include a freedom from the power of sin. A willingness and an ability to please God brings the deepest satisfaction. When you are freed by the shepherd, he actually empowers you to be free. Free to please God, and free from the enslaving power of sin. You can “come in and go out”. There is no tyrant power of sin forcing Jesus’ flock away from God’s good pastures.

C. Supplied Life (v. 9)

and find pasture.

God supplies you with everything you need. We need to know, however, that there is our side to grazing on his good pastures. We must still graze when he shows us the grass.

Illustration: City boy and the Milk Cow

   A fellow who had been reared in the city bought a farm and several milk cows. In the feed store one day he complained his best cow had gone dry.
   "Aren't you feeding her right?" asked the store owner.
   "I'm feeding her what you've been selling me," said the man.
   "Are you milking her everyday?"
   "Just about. If I need six or eight ounces of milk for breakfast, I go out and get it. If I don't need any, I don't get it--I just let her save it up."
   The feed store owner had to explain it doesn't work that way. The cow dries up unless you take all the milk she can give each day.[iii]

There’s a lot of similarity between getting milk on the farm, and getting spiritual milk, God’s nourishment. God supplies, yes. But are you in the habit of getting his supply? Are you going to God only sporadically? Are you going to God only at your convenience? Only in 6 oz. doses? Are you wondering why your times with God have dried up?

D. Protected Life (v. 12)

¹²The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

Illustration: The protection of the burned hut on the Island story

Have you ever felt abandoned by God? One man did when he was stranded on an island.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground ---- it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

E. Valued Life (v. 11, 13, 17-18)

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

¹³The [hireling] man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁷The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.

¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Illustration: The Price Our Shepherd Paid

It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things; but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion. [iv] It cost him nothing to make us, but a tremendous price to buy us back.

Isaiah 53:6 says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." Although God has a right to own us because he created us, we all went astray. The shepherd searched near and far to get us back. Did he find you at an animal auction where you were about to be sold for destruction? He sees the old mark where he notched your ear as a baby lamb. It is his mark. You are his lamb. He wants to say, “hey that’s my lamb you can’t auction him off!” But the wicked auctioneer responds, “He left you, and I’ve been feeding it now for years. Finders keepers, losers weepers. If you want this useless old sheep, you must bid and pay just like anybody else."
That’s just what the shepherd did. He bid and paid an outrageous price, far above any reasonable market value in order to get you back. We are doubly owned, doubly bought, and doubly cared for. He has paid the blood of his own Son--an outrageous price far above our market value--in order to redeem us back again.

F. Intimate Life (v. 14-16)

¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

¹⁶I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd”. I can’t help but think of Psalm 23. I have hanging on my wall at home something entitled “Psalm 23 For Me”.

Psalm 23 For Me
The Lord is my shepherd;
Safety
I shall not want.
Supply
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
Peace
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Harmony
He restoreth my soul:
Healing
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
Guidance
For his name’s sake.
Purpose
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Darkness
I will fear no evil:
Confidence
For thou art with me;
Protection
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Instruction
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Provision
Thou anointest my head with oil;
Consecration
My cup runneth over.
Abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
Loving Care
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Eternal Home.

How well do you Know The Shepherd personally?

Are you close enough to hear his voice? Do you feel cared for? How well are you listening to his voice? Are you on intimate terms? Are you experiencing an intimate relationship or are you standing a fair distance from God and our Lord and Savior, Shepherd, Jesus Christ?

III. How To Have A Wonderful Life

A. Enter Here: Jesus Is The Correct Entry Point (v. 7-9)

⁷Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.

⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

B. Swap Masters (v. 10)

Illustration: 2 Washing Machines

Last Wednesday morning in a men’s group discussion, Craig Owens mentioned in passing that sometimes being in the world is like being agitated in a washing machine. That word picture struck me. I want you to picture two washing machines. We’ll call one washing machine the world’s washing machine and the other Christ’s washing machine. In the world’s washing machine clothes go in and it isn’t soap in the machine but sand, dirt and gravel, agitating with an agitator and some filthy water. By the time the cycle is over and you pull out the clothing, they are ruined. There are holes and worn out cloth, shreds of grimy rags left in a knotted mess.

Compare that to Christ’s washing machine. You put dirty clothes in it and they are made new and clean, and better than before. Sure, there may be some agitating. But there is a cleansing affect not a destroying effect. This washing machine is actually good for the clothes.

These are two good pictures of the contrast in verse 10.

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We aren’t reading about machines are we, but about masters. A tyrant destroying thief is compared to a good shepherd. We are told what the good shepherd has come to do. He has come to save the sheep from the tyrant master. He pulls us out of the destroying machine and puts us into his washing machine that not only cleans us, but preserves and protects, and remakes us. We are urged to pledge our allegiance to the good shepherd.

Illustration: The Hand Illustration, My Shepherd

   My father [Leith Anderson’s father] was a pastor and conducted numerous funerals. I particularly remember the tragic death and funeral of my best friend's father. My father often told a favorite story about a little boy who was desperately ill. His parents recognized that he probably soon would die. They sent for the local pastor. He came at night to visit the child, who was semiconscious. He was unable to speak and apparently never spoke in any acknowledgment of the pastor's presence.
   The pastor was alone in the child's upstairs room and left late at night. He returned early the next morning after the boy had died. He did his best to console the parents. He prayed with them. He grieved with them.
   Later the parents asked the pastor if he had any explanation for something that had happened. They told the pastor that in the hours before their son died and at the time of his death, he was holding the ring finger of one hand with his other hand. He died in that position.
   It was then the pastor explained what he had said that night in the child's room. He had wanted to explain to that child on the edge of eternity not only the importance of being a Christian but, in a child's language, how to become one. He said he had taken their son's hand and first held his thumb and had said, "The--because, we're talking about one of a kind."
   Then he held his next finger and said, "Lord." For the next finger, he said God himself is right here. The next finger: my, a personal commitment and relationship. For the last finger: shepherd, the one who owns, who died, who cares and loves: Jesus.
   While he had not spoken, the child had heard. Before he died, he put his hand around the finger to say, "The Lord is my shepherd." [v]

Would you mind joining me in this little hand exercise?

"THE--because, we're talking about one of a kind."
"LORD"-- Because he is master of the universe. He is the Lord of Lords and king of kings
“IS” -- because He isn’t just an idea. He really is. In fact that verb is his personal Name. Nothing is, except that he is. I AM THAT I AM. The being of everything else depends on his being, that HE IS.. And He IS right here right now. The next finger:
“MY” – is for a personal commitment and relationship. This is the ring finger, the finger we place a ring on when entering a marriage covenant. When I entered into covenant with Jesus, He became MY shepherd. He shepherds those who believe in him and want him to be their shepherd. For the last finger:
“SHEPHERD” – He’s the one who owns, who died, who cares and loves his sheep: Jesus said He is the Good shepherd..

What about you? As we bow our heads let me ask you a question. Do you want the Lord Jesus to be your shepherd? If you do, before God, will you just silently grasp your ring finger and tell God you want Jesus to be your Lord, your Savior, your Shepherd.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for paying the price to buy us back from the thief and destroyer. I have been like a sheep that has wandered off and gone my own way. Thank you for looking for me. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for paying the price that I can be rescued. Thank you also for supplying me everything I need. You have saved me. You have given me good pastures. You protect me. Thank you for valuing me, and loving me. I love you also. Thank you for speaking to me today. I have heard your voice today. I have heard your truth. I commit to going to you each day for my supply. I will follow you and listen to your voice. Thank you for making it possible for me to live a wonderful life. And thank you that that life is eternal.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

[i] Go to this link for more interesting reflections from Jimmy Stewart who starred in the movie.

[ii] Jay Akkerman in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership.

[iii] Don Aycock, Franklinton, Louisiana, Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 3.

[iv] C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 9.

[v] Leith Anderson, "The Lord Is My Shepherd," Preaching Today, Tape No. 136.

How To Be Sure That "It's A Wonderful Life"